MCAT Mnemonic Handbook Flashcards

MCAT review flashcards for chemistry, biochemistry, biology, psychology, sociology, and physics, focusing on mnemonics and key concepts.

Alkanes (Me Eats Peanut Butter; Paul Has Had Only Nine Donuts)

Methane, Ethane, Propane, Butane, Pentane, Hexane, Heptane, Octane, Nonane

Metric Prefixes (The Good Moms Know Dunkin-Donuts Can Make u Mean Not Polite)

Tera, Giga, Mega, Kilo, Deca - Deci, centi, milli, micro, nano, pico

Electrochemistry (An Ox Red Cat)

Anode has Oxidation, Reduction at the Cathode

Galvanic Cell Notation (Oil Rig)

Oxidation is Loss (of electrons), Reduction is Gain (of electrons)

Acid-Base Reactions (B-L-A-D)

Bronsted-Lowery Acid donates (Base accepts)

Diatomic Elements (Have No Fear Of Ice CoLd BeeR)

H2, N2, F2, O2, I2, Cl2, Br2

LEO goes GER

Lose Electrons Oxidation, Gain Electrons Reduction

FAT CAT (electrons)

Flow from Anode To CAThode

Pyrimidies (CUT the Pye)

Cytosine, Uracil, Thymine

Purines (Pure As Gold)

Adenine and Guanine

Glycolysis Products (Girls Get Fine Food, Gentlemen Dine Girls, Boys Prefer to Pick up Pepperoni Pizza)

Glucose -> G6P -> F6P -> F1-6BiP -> G3P+DHP -> G3P (DAHP converted to G3P) -> 1,3-Bpg -> 3-P -> 2-P -> PEP -> Pyruvate

Glycolysis Enzymes (High Profile People Act Too Glamorous, Picture Posing Every Place)

Hexokinase -> Phosphogluco Isomerase -> Phosphofructokinase -> Aldolase -> Triosephophate Isomerase -> Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate (G3P) Dehydrogenase -> Phosphoglycerate Kinase -> Phosphoglycerate mutase -> Enolase -> Pyruvate Kinase

Citric Acid Cycle Products (CIA Steals Secrets From Military Operations)

Citrate -> Isocitrate -> A-ketogluterate -> Succinyl-CoA -> Succinate -> Fumarate -> Malate -> Oxaloacetate

Citric Acid Cycle Enzymes (Captain America's Irate Avengers Seldom Spoke For Money)

Citrate Synthase -> Aconitase -> Isocitrate Dehydrogenase -> alpha-ketoglutarate Dehydrogenase -> Succinyl-CoA Synthetase -> Succinate Dehydrogenase -> Fumarase -> Malate Dehydrogenase

Citric Acid Cycle Byproducts (Ordering at a sports bar) (3 Nachos, 1 Fries, 3 Coors, 1 Guinness

3 NADH, 1 FaDH, 3 CO2, 1 GTP

Right Shift on O2 Hb Dissociation Curve (CADET shift Right!)

Co2, Acid, 2,3-DPG, Exercise, Temp

Sodium / Potassium Pump (321 NOKIA)

3 Na out, 2K in, 1 ATP

Blood Blotting (SNoW DRoP)

Southern, Northern, o, Western

Southern, Northern, o, Western (SNoW DRoP)

DNA, RNA, o, Protein

Neurons (SAME DAVE)

Sensory Afferent, Motor Efferent

Neurons (SAME DAVE)

Dorsal Afferent, Ventral Efferent

Zygote Development (More Blasting Gas, I'm Nervous)

Morula -> Blastula -> Gastrula -> Neuralation

Enzymes in Irreversible Steps (Her Grandma Puts Paint (in) Kettles)

Hexokinase Glucokinase PFK-1 Pyruvate Kinase

Cell Development (Great Zoo Everything's Fun)

Gamete -> Zygote -> Embryo -> Fetus

Male Reproductive Tract (SEVEN UP)

Seminiferous Tubules -> Epididymis -> Vas Deferens -> Ejaculatory Duct -> (Nothing) -> Urethra -> Penis

Ovarian and Menstrual Cycle (FOL(d) M(a)PS)

Follicular Phase, Ovulatory Phase, Luteal Phase

Anterior Pituitary Hormones (FLAT) (PEG) - F

FSH - Follicle stimulating hormone

Anterior Pituitary Hormones (FLAT) (PEG) - L

LH - Lutenizing hormone

Anterior Pituitary Hormones (FLAT) (PEG) - A

ACTH - adrenocorticotropic hormone

Anterior Pituitary Hormones (FLAT) (PEG) - T

TSH - thyroid stimulating hormone

Anterior Pituitary Hormones (FLAT) (PEG) - P

PRL - prolactin

Anterior Pituitary Hormones (FLAT) (PEG) - E

Endorphins

Anterior Pituitary Hormones (FLAT) (PEG) - G

GH - growth hormone

Germ Layers (Attract- oderm)

Ectoderm - Includes skin, eyes, glands (sweat, mammary, etc), nervous systems

Germ Layers (Move - oderim)

Mesoderm - Includes, bones, muscles, circulatory system, kidneys (hydrate!), gonads

Germ Layers (Endernal o-oderm)

Endoderm - Includes GI tract, respiratory system, accessory organs

Calcitonin and PTH (Calci-tone it down!)

Calcitonin decreases blood Ca2+ levels (PTH is the opposite)

Dyneins vs Kinesins (Dine in or Carry Out?) - Dyneins

Dyneins go toward the center of the cell (Dine in)

Dyneins vs Kinesins (Dine in or Carry Out?) - Kinesins

Kinesins go toward exterior of cell (Carry Out)

Amino Acids (Grandma Always Visits London In May For Winston's Party) - Non-polar AAs

GAVLIMFWP

Codons (Are You Going?) - Start Codon

AUG (Met)

Codons (Are You Going?) - Stop Codons

UAA UGA UAG

Santas Team Crafts New Quilts Yearly - Polar AAs

STCNQY

Acidic AAs (acid like the stomach = digestive enzymes) - Digestive Enzymes

DE

Karen Rarely Hangs - Pyrimidies - Basic AAs

KRH

Good Spaghetti Always Comes (with) Tomatoes - Polar Uncharged AA's

Glutamine Serine Asparagine Cysteine Threonine

Her Red Dress Kills (at) Events - Electric AA's

HRDKE

Please Think Twice - Aromatic AAs

Phenylalanine Tyrosine Tryptophan

Neuron Sodium / Potassium Concentrations (Salty Bananna)

Na is high outside (a cell), K (potassium) is high inside (the cell / bananna)

Beta vs Alpha Carbohydrates (bow Down to Alpha, Beta beat me Up) - Alpha

Alpha = trans/down

Beta vs Alpha Carbohydrates (bow Down to Alpha, Beta beat me Up) - Beta

Beta = cis/up

Cell Cycle (Go Sally Go Make Children!)

Growth phase 1, S phase (DNA synthesis/replication), Growth phase 2, Mitosis, Cytokinesis

Cell Division (PMAT)

Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, Telophase

Pancreas (BAD PIGS)

Beta, Alpha, Delta of Pancreas release Insulin, Glucagon, Somatostatin

Cadherin Function (CADHERIN)

CAlcium - Dependent adHERINg of cells

Estrogen and Progesterone (Estrogen Establishes Progesterone Protects)

Function of Estrogen / Progesterone in the endometrium

Glucagon Function (GlucaGon(e))

Your body produces Glucagon when your GLUcose levels are Gone

Bone Building / Degredation (CALciTONEin)

Calcitonin TONEs down CALcium levels (vs. PTH, which raises blood calcium

You down with OBB? osteoCLASTS CLASH

Osteoblasts Build Bone (vs. osteoclasts, which do the opposite / clash)

Operons - Trp operon is 'Tripped off' if Trp is low

If trp is low, trp repressor gets kicked off ('tripped off'), RNA polymerase then makes more trp

Chordate Traits (Do Not Pinch People)

Dorsal nerve cord, notochord, pharyngeal slits, postanal tail

Fat Soluble Vitamins (KEDA (sounds like Keto, think diet / exercise, healthy stuff, VITAMINS)

Vitamins K, E, D, A are all fat soluble

Exons Expressed, Introns in the trash - Exons

Exons are the transcribed part of the nucleotide sequence in mRNA that's liable for protein synthesis.

Exons Expressed, Introns in the trash - Introns

Introns are the transcribed part of the nucleotide sequence in an mRNA and bound to carry the non-coding part for the proteins.

LAC operon LACks expression when LACtose is LACking

LAC operon isn't being expressed when LAC is low

Taxonomy (King Philip Came Over For Gold & Silver)

Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species

White Blood Cells (Nobody Likes Me Eating Badgers)

Neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils

DNA Order - Read in order, build a pyrmid

DNA is read 3'-5' left to right like we read. But is synthesized 5'-3' largest to smallest just how a pyramid is built.

Emotion Theories - Lange, James-Lange

James Lange theory has action happen first, then emotional response.

Kugler - Ross Stages of Grief (Death Always Brings Definite Acceptance)

Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance

Vision (CIPLR)

Cornea, Iris, Pupil, Lens, Retina

Eye Disorders (The 1st letter of each section is in alphabetical order: HM, FN, CD, BF) - Hyperopia

Hyperopia = Farsighted = fixed with Converging lens = focus image Behind retina

Eye Disorders (The 1st letter of each section is in alphabetical order: HM, FN, CD, BF) - Myopia

Myopia = Nearsighted = fixed with Diverging lens = focus image in Front of retina

Scared the Singer Schacter–Singer

Event -> Physiological Response -> Labeling -> Emotion (Scare -> Singer screams -> realizes it's a surprise party -> experiences emotion)

Sleep Stages (BATS Drink Blood) - Beta waves

Beta waves = awake

Sleep Stages (BATS Drink Blood) - Alpha waves

Alpha waves = drowsy / relaxed

Sleep Stages (BATS Drink Blood) - Theta waves

Theta waves = Stage 1

Sleep Stages (BATS Drink Blood) - Sleep spindles and K complexes

Sleep spindles and K complexes = Stage 2

Sleep Stages (BATS Drink Blood) - Delta waves

Delta waves = Stage 3

Sleep Stages (BATS Drink Blood) - Beta waves (REM)

Beta waves = REM

Paiget Stages of Development (Starbucks Puts Coffee First)

Sensorimotor -> Pre-operationsl -> Concrete Operational -> Formal Operational

Big 5 Personality Traits (OCEAN)

Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism

Freud Psychosexual Stages (Old Angry Parrots Love Grapes)

Oral (0-1) -> Anal (1-3) -> Phallic (3-6) -> Latent (6-puberty) -> Genital (puberty+)

Maslow Hierarchy (Please Stop Buying Stupid Stuff)

Physiological, Safety -> Belonging / Love -> Self-esteem -> Self-actualization

Universal Emotions (on keyboard) (ASDFGH)

Anger, Surprise, Disgust, Fear, Gloomy (sad), Happy

Memory (PORN) - Proactive interference

Old memories interfere with new ones

Memory (PORN) - Retroactive interference

New memories interfere with old ones

Brain Anatomy - Sulcus

Sulcus are the grooves / wrinkles on the brain

Manic Episodes in Bipolar (DIG FAST)

Distractible, insomnia, Grandiosity, Flight of ideas, Agitation, (pressured) Speech, Thoughtless and risky behavior

Personality Disorders (3 W's) - 1

Weird (paranoid, schizotypical, schizoid)

Personality Disorders (3 W's) - 2

Wild (antisocial, borderline, histrionic, narcissistic)

Personality Disorders (3 W's) - 3

Worried (avoidant, dependent, obsessive compulsive

Types of Reinforcement (Poor Nick Picks Carrots)

Positive Negative Primary Conditional

Theories of Personality (Phones Have To Be Switched off)

Psychoanalytic Humanistic Trait Behaviorism Social/Cognitive

Sleep 'Pon the bed

Pons controls sleep

SUPerman has SUPerior vision

SUPerior colliculus is for visual sensorimotor reflexes

Most Common Mental and Psychiatric Disorders (Does Anyone Believe People Actually Speed?)

Depression Anxiety Bipolar Disorder Phobia Autism Schizophrenia

Four Primary Factors for Motivation (I’m Not Driving Anywhere)

Instincts Needs Drives Arousal

Components of General Adaptation Syndrome (EAR)

Exhaustion Alarm Resistance

Physiological Markers of Emotions (B - TRAP) - Changes in

Blood pressure Temperature Respiration rate Adrenaline Pulse